I am commenting on the…

I am commenting on the proposal for an interim combined sewer to support development at 955 Lake Shore Boulevard (Ontario Place).

I am opposed to the proposal, which goes against decades of work by the City of Toronto to separate and replace combined sewers across the city to prevent the discharge of raw sewage into Lake Ontario.

It also flies in the face of international agreements to protect water quality and habitat in the Great Lakes. This effluent also risks human health in terms of water quality at Sunnyside, Marilyn Bell and Humber Bay Park beaches, and on westward as far west as Scarborough.

Likewise the effluent is a concern for fishing and the quality of the lake as an attraction for Canadian and international visitors. In terms of water sports, the CNE and its renowned West Channel aquatic events will not be feasible due to this project's related threats of contamination from heavy rain.

The province has also not held any consultations about this hastily planned work with the general public. Public health is at stake, not to mention the financial costs that citizens will bear for this unvetted project. Moreover, it will be of no benefit to the public, since instead of constructing a pipe that extends out into the lake, the project entails diverting flow to the highly used West Channel.

This proposal to benefit private sector initiatives, is not in the public interest and threatens the stability of the lake ecosystem in a time of severe biodiversity loss. It is the duty of the Ministry of the Environment to protect the environment and the population. Please deny this permit.